In honour of Charles Brandt, long-time and much-admired conservationist in the Comox Valley, our Brandt Memorial Committee has organized an afternoon of stimulating and informative lectures on the theme of salmon conservation:
Date: Sunday March 8, 2026 Time: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. (doors open at 1:00 p.m.) Location: Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, 2300 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC.
The program includes two keynote presentations:
“The state of salmon: mobilizing data, understanding resilience and informing recovery” by speaker Will Duguid of the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
“Salmon Parks: restoring wild salmon in Nootka Sound for future generations” by speakers Eric Angel and Jamie James, of the Salmon Park Stewardship Society associated with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.
Be sure to mark your calendars for this special event—everybody is welcome. Attendance by CVN members is free, and others by donation.
For more information about Charles Brandt and details of these lectures, visit this page.
Join CVN members and guests for our Annual General Meeting for 2026:
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 Time: 3:00 p.m. PT Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
This is an opportunity to hear our interest groups and projects give an overview of the past year’s events and progress, along with a peek into their upcoming activities.
The business part of the meeting promises to be relatively short, with elections for all positions on the board of directors, and information on the state of our finances and our budget for this year.
As always, there will be an intermission with a chance to meet new people and socialize with old friends. Tea, coffee and treats will be available.
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the public to attend in person. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to register for the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting. This meeting will not be recorded.
Garry oak getting light at Vanier Nature ParkNew signs at AirparkBursary winner Ruby ViePulling lamium at Little RiverNew logoBotany at Ruth Masters GreenwayBCN awards at June picnicShoreline Group sees a bearPulling ivy along Rotary Trail
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Watch this space and our other channels in the coming weeks for information about the event referenced here.
This planning message from our Charles Brandt Memorial committee is intended for CVN members.
Dear CVN members:
CVN is hosting an important and exciting event on March 8 (1:30 to 4:30) at the Stan Hagen Theatre entitled the Inaugural Charles Brandt Conservation Lectures. CVN members can attend free of charge!
We are looking for some volunteers to help with specific duties at the event (see details here). If you can help out, please write to and indicate what task you would like to help with. Thank you for considering this.
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our January 2026 general meeting:
Title: Tsolum River Watershed – River Resilience in the 21st Century Speaker: Laura O’Brien (Tsolum River Restoration Society) Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, a recording is available here (MP4, duration 1:02, 309 MB if downloaded).
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
On December 2, the Botany Group met at Kitty Coleman Provincial Park to explore both a typical Douglas-fir forest and the estuary at this coastal location. The focus was on the lush mosses and on signs of both winter setting in (but with no snow yet) and optimistic preparations for spring. The group also looked at ways to identify trees without their leaves and at a few fungi, lichens, and slime molds. The trip was repeated on December 6.
You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12.9 MB).
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:
Broken-leaf mossBroom mossSporangium of coiled-leaf claw-mossFlat mossLanky mossRosy conkGloeomucro sp. (fungus)Mica capUpright coral (fungus)White marasmius (fungus)Winter oyster (fungus)Hyphenated ribbon (lichen)Badhamia utricularis (slime mold) on a branchSpiny wood fernSlender toothwortVanilla-leafSilver burweedTurkish towel (a red alga)
Title: Mining and the Environment in Northern Ontario Speaker: Dr. Constance O’Connor (Wildlife Conservation Society) Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m. PT
See the registration link below.
Peatlands of Hudson Bay Lowland (Photo: Connie O’Connor)
The boreal forests and peatlands of northern Ontario represent one of the world’s largest remaining intact forests and the third-largest wetland in the world. This area is the homeland for Anishnaabeg and Ininiwak, is an important refuge for northern wildlife, and a globally important carbon store. This area has seen little of the industrial resource development and urban settlement that has transformed areas to the south,
However, there is growing interest in resource development in this region, particularly for mining. These developments would also require associated roads, transmission lines, and other infrastructure. This presentation will provide an overview of the current context of mining in northern Ontario, including a discussion of limitations and concerns with the regulatory and planning frameworks for mining in Ontario relative to the environment and Indigenous rights; and current status and issues with proposed projects, including within the Ring of Fire area.
Nature Trust of British Columbia is calling for volunteers to help plant trees at the Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Monday, January 19.
The West Coast Conservation Land Management Program of Nature Trust BC manages this important conservation area in Comox. Their plan this month is to plant 330 native trees and shrubs in the area. This work is the continuation of a large scale restoration project that began in 2025 and treated over 1.5 hectares of Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom. The selected area for planting native species is roughly 0.5 hectares.
The Nature Trust BC leader of this work party is Geoff Stathers. Please email Geoff at to let him know you are coming and for answers to any questions you may have. Geoff estimates that with enough volunteers the job can be done in one day.
Geoff has provided the following details.
What to expect
Start time: 11:00 a.m. on Monday January 19.
Where: I will meet everyone at the entrance to the WMA off Torrence Rd between Highland Secondary and the public works yard. The planting site is roughly a 500 metre walk from the parking lot to the restoration area.
Prior to any work, a safety meeting is required and volunteer waiver must be signed, both provided by NTBC.
All trees and shrubs will be staged by Nature Trust (NTBC) staff before volunteers arrive.
Extra shovels and gloves will be provided by NTBC.
A demonstration will also be provided on planting.
Only expectation is to have a great time meeting some new people and restoring the Lazo Wildlife Management Area!
What to bring
Planting shovels, pickaxes, and any tools that could be helpful. The ground here can be quite dense.
Weather conditions look favourable at the moment for Monday but I suggest wearing layers and bring appropriate raingear regardless.
Proper footwear for the walk to and from the restoration area and for protection while planting.
Other details
Pot sizes for native species: (1-gal, 2-gal, 5-gal, 7-gal).
A pre-measured volume of time-release fertilizer will be added to each plant– a demonstration will be provided in the field.
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s January general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker:
Title: Tsolum River Watershed – River Resilience in the 21st Century Speaker: Laura O’Brien (Tsolum River Restoration Society) Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026 Time: 3:00 p.m. PT Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
The 2025 pink salmon migration, where they were stopped by a man made/beaver enhanced dam on Sep 28, 2025.
Laura’s presentation will incude:
A little history – minesite reclamation, society.
Current issues:
Worsening summer drought conditions and winter flood events exacerbated by climate change,
Riparian issues – large second growth falling into the river now; the need for replanting to assist with lowering temperature for trout and coho salmon in summer season.
Invasive species – American bullfrogs and pumpkinseed fish.
Hope for the future:
Historic returns of pinks every odd year since 2011.
Engaging youth and community.
New RIBIT regional bullfrog initiative.
CV Conservation partnership.
About the speaker
Laura during the pink salmon count on the Tsolum, Sep 30, 2023. (Photo: Laura O’Brien)
Laura O’Brien was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, loves water, writing and the natural world. She has lived in the Comox Valley since 1994 and on the Tsolum River for almost 25 years. She is a legal assistant by trade and has been a volunteer director of the Tsolum River Restoration Society (TRRS) since 2001. She wrote a series of informative historical pieces about the Tsolum River and created a series about “Tsolum Sid” a fictional Western toad who lives in the watershed, both of which were published regularly in the now defunct Rural Shopper magazine. She wrote these pieces to raise public awareness about the River and the long-term pollution caused by acid mine drainage, and to encourage river stewardship.
Laura is a leader on the TRRS Outreach Committee which participates in many public events to celebrate the River and watershed, develop community connections, share information and raise awareness. The Committee is also actively involved in bringing watershed education to local schools. Sharing her love of the Tsolum with others and encouraging them to be active stewards of our unique watersheds and our beautiful Valley are among her favourite pursuits.
More about the meeting
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the public to attend the in-person meeting. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to join the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.
After the keynote presentation there will be a break with coffee/tea, goodies and socializing, followed by the business part of the meeting. This consists mainly of brief reports from our interest groups and projects, an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
At the end of another impactful year of restoration work at the Courtenay Airpark, long-time project leader Frank Hovenden has provided his illustrated annual report which you can read and download here (PDF, 5.1 MB).
As usual, the dedicated project volunteers diligently attacked invasive species and planted appropriate native species, all while attending to previous plantings. Invasive rabbits continue to be an issue in the park, which explains the fencing you may see there protecting the plantings.
Frank installing one of the new signs.
An extra task this year was replacing the aging signs that identify and describe the native species that are gradually increasing in the park. The new signs include the new logos of both Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay. CVN has worked closely with City staff over the years to accomplish the goals of this project.
You can also find this report and previous ones on this page.
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our November 2025 general meeting:
Title: Sea Star Wasting DiseaseMonitoring on the BC Coast Speakers: Carolyn Prentice and Ondine Pontier (Hakai Institute) Date: Sunday, November 23, 2025
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, a recording is available here (MP4, 137 MB if downloaded).
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
Ochre stars (Photo: Kelly Fretwell)Sunflower star and diver (Photo: Grant Callegari)
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) is a top-level avian predator in mature and old coastal rainforests and is considered an indicator species of these habitats, as well as an indicator of forest health and biodiversity.Over half of the global range of this subspecies occurs in coastal British Columbia, where it favours mature coniferous forest. This non-migratory bird needs a relatively large home range that contains a good food supply. Despite some recent habitat protection efforts, continuing habitat loss is predicted, in part because of anticipated short rotation times in forest harvest. On Haida Gwaii, populations are very low and face an added risk from declines of prey species due to forest understory losses associated with high levels of browsing from an introduced population of deer.The Gitsegukla Huwilp of the Gitxsan.have drafted a petition to call for the legal protection of Northern Goshawks. These birds are keystone species in the Skeena Natural Resource Region which covers northwest British Columbia and includes the northern half of the Great Bear Rainforest. The coastal subspecies of Northern Goshawk on Haida Gwaii is the most vulnerable.The petition urges the Province of British Columbia to recognize and implement Regionally Important Wildlife protection for the Northern Goshawk. To sign please go to form.jotform.com/261745367749068For more information on the Goshawk visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessm......
Our partners in conservation; CV Land Trust & Conservation Partnership are crowdfunding to purchase a very ecologically important property in Deep Bay. ...
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s September general meeting, this Sunday, September 27th.This month John Neilson will be speaking on “The Challenges in Maintaining an Urban Salmon Population – the Brooklyn Creek Story”Streams in urban environments that support healthy Pacific salmon populations are uncommon, as natural watercourses are often degraded or even buried during the course of development of roads and other urban infrastructure. Of the various Pacific salmon species, coho salmon show special abilities to survive and even thrive in close proximity to human settlements. In this talk, John Neilson reviews the status of coho salmon in the region, and explores the characteristics of this species that promote their resilience. He will also speak of the work of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society as they work to conserve the watershed in Comox.Dr. John Neilson has had a 30-year long career as a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including leading research on the population status and ecology of bluefin tuna and swordfish in Canadian waters. He was also a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and most recently, led the preparation of the status report on chinook salmon in southern British Columbia. He is the President of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society.A brief business meeting follows. Reports from some of our interest groups and projects are an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do. ...
☀️ 💦 What a great way to wrap up the summer with a splash! We're joining our large community of folks who love and care for our watersheds. Come celebrate and learn--and chat with MARS and meet one of our wildlife ambassadors on the glove. Look for our green tent.It's wonderful opportunity to get to know the special community organizations who steward the natural systems and beautiful landscapes that surround us. Discover key land, water, and climate issues facing our community, find out how you can get involved, and learn more about the long standing stewardship of K'omoks people, the original keepers of this land. Explore restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries - and so much more. Start the day with Yoga by the River, participate in watershed art projects, enjoy kids activities, take in some hands-on learning, or join a guided walk - all looking out over the Puntledge River. Uncover all the ways we are truly Connected by Water in the Comox Valley.Look at these activities!🧘 Gentle Flow Yoga for the River (bring a mat!) with Annicia 9:30-10:30 am💦 Lake Park Society - Environmental Games for Kids - all day🌀 Woven by Water - Participatory Watershed Art with Plants are Teachers - all day🥒 Luke the Cuke - Pop Up Poetry, Games and Riverside Antics 9 am -1 pm🚶 Morrison Creek Guided Walk 11 am - Meet at Morrison Streamkeepers Tent🎶 Reverberation Song Circle - join in and sing 12 noon🎨 Intro to Field Drawing with Lyndsay 1:00 pm - Meet at Cumberland Forest tent🎻 Music for the River w/ Cam Boyce - to close the dayFamily Watershed Day is presented by the members of the Comox Valley Conservation Partnership and their community partners. K'ómoks First Nation Project Watershed Plants Are Teachers Cumberland Forest Comox Valley Nature CV Land Trust & Conservation Partnership ...
The CVN photo group met last night for its September meeting and here are a few of the photos we shared with one another.Species and photographer shown in each photo... ...
